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Topic: The Hunted Hawks (Read 5861 times)

Kit was quiet for awhile, allowing Laren time to think as he guided the horse down the trail. Sitting behind and against him on Starsprinter, she could feel the tension within him. After a few hours of riding, it did not dissipate as she had expected.

'He has been through so much these past few days,' she thought.

Finally, and with a bit of hesitation in her voice, she asked, "Laren, can we talk for a bit?"

Kossuth had long gone to rest below the land and the moons were out casting their eery glow. The cool night sky was freckled with stars and a clustered river of them shimmerd across the length of the celestial dome. The smell of turned soil was wafting frome the road ahead and a dark strip could be seen on the horizon.

Laren and Kit were again weary with their day's travel. Both had expressed an interest in settling down into a soft feather mattress and a pillow to match. The jostling of the day's ride had been hard on their bones and they ached all over. Starsprinter in his own quest to get home kepot marching on. His stride was steady but slower now after a long days travel.

Soon the dark strip got taller and revealed itself to be a line of trees. The road and river cut into the forest and soon became open fields. The scent of turned soil was much stronger here and both Kit and Laren knew they had entered the farm fields of Little Threshold. To their left were grazing fields and to their right were orchards of trees. In the distance they could see the few lonely lights marking the farming hamlet of Little Threshold.

They passed through the hamlet and traveled down the wide road to the larger part of the town. The darkness of the forest enveloped the rider and horse and they could hardly see their hands in front of them. Starsprinter knew the way home though even through the darkness.

Before long, they crossed over the Angelhawk Bridge. From out of The Mushroom O' the Stump Garret and Eldan came out and said nothing thought the looks on their faces spoke volumns. With out a word they escorted Starsprinter to the Thornhedge and helped Kit and Laren down. The door to the Inn opened and Keltan was waiting with a warm smile. Laren and Kit entered into the belly of the inn and keltan closed the door. The familiar hoofbeats of the horse could be heard trailing off into the distance. As Keltan escortes the two exhausted companions to their rooms he says, "I'm glad to see that you're both back."

"No thanks, I don't think my stomach could hold it." Kit said with a slight grimace.

Laren sat in front of her in the saddle, waiting for Kit to kick the sides of Starsprinters hindquarters and send them into a gallop.

Kit lowered her head, and rested her brow on the top and back of Laren's.

"After a moment she whispered, I really am sorry Laren, I shouldn't have touched the Eye," and after a pause she added, "I feel....different now." Her voice reflected bewilderment at the last two words.

Laren Helped kit up onto the horse, and then began the climb himself. "I have a little sweet apple wine to take the edge off of that headache." Laren remembered his own head throbbing after his introduction to the gem.

"You heard it too?" Kit stood up, her wound forgotten and looked around at the empty hills. "I think you were right Laren, we should be on our way," Kit said in a nervous rush.

Kit opened the gash in the cloth of her skirt and dumped water onto the wound. With a yelp of pain, she brushed her fingernails along the surface of the wound in a rush, trying to expel the dirt from it.

Gritting her teeth she walked back to Starsprinter. "We should get out of here my friend. We can finish our discussion while we make our way home".

A cold wind sweeps up and a trace voice enters Laren's and Kit's head and slowly says, "Valekai...". Both Laren and Kit get cold shivers down their spine and feel as if someone is watching them. Looking around they only see that it's the rolling hills and the jagged mountains to the south.

Laren stared at the waterskin on the ground where he had left it, wondering why she would get up from right next to it, go sit somewhere else and ask someone to get it for her... He shook his head and bent over and piked it up. He thought of asking about it, but decided it wasn't worth the effort.

Kit looked at the napkin and let out a giggle. She looked up at Laren and gave a small cautious smile.

She walked over to a nearby stump, a little to Laren’s chagrin as he was anxious to get back on horseback and head out. Sitting down, she pulled up her long skirt along the entire length of her right leg to better inspect the wound.

“Can I have your skin Laren?” she asked innocently, while gently pulling pieces of dirt from the wound.